Phillies pick high‑school shortstop Tyler Spangler in 2026 MLB draft

The Philadelphia Phillies selected 18‑year‑old high‑school shortstop Tyler Spangler with the 36th overall pick in the 2026 Major League Baseball draft. Spangler, a 6‑foot‑3 left‑handed hitter from De La Salle High School in Concord, California, posted a .430 average with 10 home runs as a junior but missed his senior season after a back injury. The Phillies’ scouting director Brian Barber said the team completed an extensive medical review and felt comfortable taking the risk, noting Spangler’s projected upside at shortstop and potential to shift to third base.

The Phillies’ Day 1 strategy also emphasized size and velocity, selecting outfielder Caden Bogenpohl (64th), right‑hander Ruger Riojas (100th), right‑hander Deven Sheerin (128th) and right‑hander Jaxon Jelkin (135th). Other teams made notable picks, including the Pittsburgh Pirates’ selection of left‑hander Ryan Marohn (140th) and the Texas Rangers’ choice of pitcher Hudson Calhoun (fourth round). The draft follows a league penalty that pushed the Phillies back ten places in the order due to luxury‑tax violations.